Not all children (or adults) learn in the same way. One of my friends takes a class at the local junior college whenever she wants to learn a new skill or a new computer program. I learn best by just jumping in and figuring it out on my own through trial and error. Neither way is good or bad—just different.
This week is National School Choice Week. School choice allows parents to choose the best school for their children. Many will stick with traditional public schools, but others will choose a magnet school, a charter school, home school, or some other non-traditional form of education. Ideally, each student will thrive in the school environment that the parents choose.
Children should not be forced to attend public schools if the schools do not provide the best learning environment for their kids. Parents may choose different schools for individual students. A high schooler may thrive in the public school, while a younger sibling may perform best in a charter school. Parents should have that choice.
I wish we’d had so many choices while our son was growing up. He’d had some bad educational experiences before we adopted him at age eleven, and public school was not the best place for him. However, the only other options were very expensive private schools that didn’t meet our needs, either. He managed to graduate from high school, but he never enjoyed school. Our experience motivates me to advocate for school choice for all children.
ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee, with thy gracious favour to behold our universities, colleges, and schools, that knowledge may be increased among us, and all good learning flourish and abound. Give parents choices and the wisdom to make the right choices for their children. Bless all who teach and all who learn; and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look unto thee, who art the fountain of all wisdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer